The Milwaukee Brewers celebrate after defeating the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 at Miller Park on August 25, 2020 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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The Milwaukee Brewers postponed Wednesday’s baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, and joined the Milwaukee Bucks and other NBA teams to protest the Jacob Blake police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
“The Milwaukee Brewers organization joins the players in their decision not to play tonight’s game,” the team said in a statement. “We need to pause and reflect on the events that are causing such pain and difficulties for our local community and country. The whole organization is committed to putting the spotlight on racial injustice, inequality and the need for change.”
Blake, a Black man, was shot in the back at least seven times by a White police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The shooting has sparked protests in Kenosha all week. Blake is paralyzed from the waist down, his father said.
The San Francisco Giants also confirmed on Twitter that Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was postponed.
The Seattle Mariners also tweeted that they will not play Wednesday’s game against the San Diego Padres.
“Given the pain in Wisconsin’s communities and beyond the shooting of Jacob Blake, we respect the decisions of a number of players not to play tonight. Major League Baseball remains united for change in our society and we will “Allies are in the fight to end racism and injustice,” MLB said in a statement.
All three NBA playoff games scheduled for Wednesday have been postponed, with players in the league opting to boycott in their strongest statement yet against racial injustice.
The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced today that in light of the Milwaukee Bucks’ decision not to take the floor today for Game 5 against the Orlando Magic, the three games today – Bucks vs. Magic, Houston Rockets “Oklahoma City Thunder and Los Angeles Lakers vs. Portland Trail Blazers – have been postponed. Game 5 of each series will be replayed,” the league said in a statement.
The dramatic series of moves began when the Bucks did not take the floor for their playoff game against the Magic. The teams were set to begin Game 5 of their series shortly after 4 p.m., with the Bucks needing a win to advance to the second round.
Players had discussed boycott games at the Disney bubble in Florida after shooting Blake in Kenosha, 40 miles south of Milwaukee. More discussions among players on teams that were still in the bubble were scheduled for Wednesday, presumably on how – if any – to proceed with the season, but even earlier, the Bucks apparently decided they would trade.
“Some things are bigger than basketball,” Bucks senior vice president Alex Lasry tweeted. “The position taken today by the players and (the organization) shows that we are full. Enough is enough. Change must happen. I am incredibly proud of our boys and we are 100% behind our players ready to help and bring about real change. “
The NBA Players Association tweeted in support of players.
—CNBC’s Jabari Young and The Associated Press contributed to this report
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